Even his own party is confused at this point beyond belief. Not sure why lawmakers are not acting at this point. The guy's mental state is in question IMO.

StratDal - 12/20/2018 at 03:19 PM

It's the president's usual media deflection when he's dealing with other issues (he has plenty).

2112 - 12/20/2018 at 04:10 PM

quote:It's the president's usual media deflection when he's dealing with other issues (he has plenty).

Exactly, he would rather people focus on this rather than all of the scandals surrounding him. Plus, Putin probably asked (told?) him to do it.
nebish - 12/20/2018 at 06:34 PM

Ending military operations and withdrawing from foreign nations is what we should all want...if the conditions and circumstances support it.

Democrats, not surprisingly, are criticizing which is to be expected. The right wing hawks aren't shy to speak out either. Probably the same ones that would have us invade Iran if they got their way.

We saw what happened when we drew down in Iraq. We really shouldn't or can't stay in these places forever can we? Or do we just accept and continue to pay for it in dollars and lives with the perpetual war? Maybe that is what the age and times call for - I guess that is what the critics want too?

pops42 - 12/20/2018 at 10:30 PM

He needs to be removed from office for the sake of this country.

gina - 12/20/2018 at 10:55 PM

Bashar al Assad, Syrias President never asked us to help him get rid of Isis. He did not want us in his country. Russia is more than capable of handling things and is an ally to Assad. The US recently struck what we believe is the main communications hub in Syria. The Islamic State began in Iraq, after we took out Iraq's President.

If Trump believes we no longer need to be in Syria, trust him, he gets good intel.

pops42 - 12/21/2018 at 01:03 AM

quote:Bashar al Assad, Syrias President never asked us to help him get rid of Isis. He did not want us in his country. Russia is more than capable of handling things and is an ally to Assad. The US recently struck what we believe is the main communications hub in Syria. The Islamic State began in Iraq, after we took out Iraq's President.

If Trump believes we no longer need to be in Syria, trust him, he gets good intel.

Not understanding why leaving is such a terrible idea? People complaining about this decision are up for signing up American GIs for another extended military occupation. No thanks. If someone can point to something working in either Afghanistan or Syria lets here it. I doubt we would be leaving if that is the case. America can use its wealth, power and influence in other more appreciative regions like Central America for starters.

MartinD28 - 12/21/2018 at 01:29 AM

quote:Bashar al Assad, Syrias President never asked us to help him get rid of Isis. He did not want us in his country. Russia is more than capable of handling things and is an ally to Assad. The US recently struck what we believe is the main communications hub in Syria. The Islamic State began in Iraq, after we took out Iraq's President.

If Trump believes we no longer need to be in Syria, trust him, he gets good intel.

Trump knows zeroooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

General Mattis has 40 some years of experience & disagrees with you & Trump. So who do we believe in...Gina & Trump or Mattis?

I just saw several retired generals on TV as well. They are not in the least impressed with Trump.

For those who voted for the incompetent Trump, you really need to think through the damage he's done to this country & the world.
pops42 - 12/21/2018 at 01:43 AM

Mattis resigned. Good for him.

cyclone88 - 12/21/2018 at 02:15 AM

quote:Mattis resigned. Good for him.

Another one w/guts!

Not only did he resign, Mattis called out Trump's worship of "malignant" dictators versus the US's commitments & allegiances to democratic allies that Mattis could no longer stomach. I heard one analyst say Putin's calling the president of the US as "Donald" in his annual speech yesterday must've set Mattis's hair on end. Neither Putin nor Trump are bothering to hide who's the boss.

Having lost virtually all his domestic loyals, Trump is left w/Putin & Erdogan. Kind of like when he was an outcast from the far richer real estate dynasties in NYC like the Silversteins & Rudins as well as reputable banks, he was left w/mob money.

Trump relishes creating this chaos. He's had a good day - Syria, Afghanistan, The Wall.

nebish - 12/21/2018 at 05:05 AM

quote:Bashar al Assad, Syrias President never asked us to help him get rid of Isis. He did not want us in his country. Russia is more than capable of handling things and is an ally to Assad. The US recently struck what we believe is the main communications hub in Syria. The Islamic State began in Iraq, after we took out Iraq's President.

If Trump believes we no longer need to be in Syria, trust him, he gets good intel.

Gina, how can you say this with any shred of honesty? Trump may get good intel, or let's say, the US government and it's agencies produce good intel - if and how that gets to the President is one thing - if he cares or listens is another.

The weird thing about Syria is that everyone is up in arms about the US involvement in Yemen. Helping Saudis fight a common enemy in Yemen bad. Helping the Kurds and similar forces fight a common enemy in Syria good.

It's a terribly complicated situation in a terribly complicated world.

Is the US willing to engage in a military conflict with Turkey over staying in Syria?

The strange thing about Syria is they have a regime, they have a leader in Assad who is no friend of the US, yet there we are inside Syria. Just thinking that the US has some 2000 troops conducting operations inside a country that we are neither a welcomed guest nor are we fighting that country directly, we are just fighting certain people within that country just because we want to...it's kind of crazy really. I'm not saying I'm against it or for it really. I would certainly rather that not be the case, but sometimes the "fight them there so we don't have to fight them here" thing makes sense.

So we either stay in these places forever and try and manage it that way, literally forever. Or we leave and they become engulfed in civil war and sectarian violence. When you look at it that way, is it lose-lose? Maybe it is just easier to keep bloating the defense budget, keep our troops deployed in active combat zones in several countries at once to keep the peace. If that is what it takes to keep the so-called peace, then we have to be honest about it. And if that is the case, leaving Iraq was wrong. Even if it was the Iraqis that wanted us gone, that deal could've been done differently and withdrawal didn't have to happen the way it did. And then we better figure out a way we are going to stay in Afghanistan forever. And we better figure out a way to get involved in more Yemen-type conflicts. And more Syrias. Lybias, etc. Is that what I am hearing people want? After all, where is the Congressional Authorization for our involvement in Syria? If so many people all of a sudden see it as so necessary.
Bhawk - 12/21/2018 at 01:34 PM

Actions praised by Putin and SecDef resigns.

All good.

MartinD28 - 12/21/2018 at 02:07 PM

quote:

quote:Mattis resigned. Good for him.

Another one w/guts!

Not only did he resign, Mattis called out Trump's worship of "malignant" dictators versus the US's commitments & allegiances to democratic allies that Mattis could no longer stomach. I heard one analyst say Putin's calling the president of the US as "Donald" in his annual speech yesterday must've set Mattis's hair on end. Neither Putin nor Trump are bothering to hide who's the boss.

Having lost virtually all his domestic loyals, Trump is left w/Putin & Erdogan. Kind of like when he was an outcast from the far richer real estate dynasties in NYC like the Silversteins & Rudins as well as reputable banks, he was left w/mob money.

Trump relishes creating this chaos. He's had a good day - Syria, Afghanistan, The Wall.

Trump & Putin = symbiotic relationship.

Trump still has his base & an enabling GOP House & Senate.
lukester420 - 12/21/2018 at 03:33 PM

quote:Trump has good intel lol!
Trump only reads Twitter and pop up books

They would scare him.
2112 - 12/22/2018 at 08:23 PM

quote:Ending military operations and withdrawing from foreign nations is what we should all want...if the conditions and circumstances support it.

Democrats, not surprisingly, are criticizing which is to be expected. The right wing hawks aren't shy to speak out either. Probably the same ones that would have us invade Iran if they got their way.

We saw what happened when we drew down in Iraq. We really shouldn't or can't stay in these places forever can we? Or do we just accept and continue to pay for it in dollars and lives with the perpetual war? Maybe that is what the age and times call for - I guess that is what the critics want too?

I agree with much of what you said here. I would prefer to be less US presence in active military conflicts in general.

But what we have here is a president who made this decision without discussing it with the experts he hired or our allies. It's like he gets a phone call from Moscow and 15 minutes later he types out the withdrawal on Twitter while sitting on the toilet. He has multiple high level staff openings, a crashing stock market, a government shutdown looming, and multiple scandels in his orbit and all of a sudden he thinks this a great time to drop this out of left field. Things that make you go hmmm.
BoytonBrother - 12/22/2018 at 11:13 PM

quote:Not understanding why leaving is such a terrible idea?

Neither am I, but one of our most decorated generals ever was really against it and quit over it.

quote:People complaining about this decision are up for signing up American GIs for another extended military occupation. No thanks.

Well remember when Obama did this and created ISIS? Trump sure loves to justify his actions by reminding us all that “Obama did it too”. I’m still confused as to why Trump continues to do what Obama did, if Obama is his arch nemesis. Odd to say the least. Wouldn’t you think Trump would be doing things differently than the person he hates? Anyway.

quote:If someone can point to something working in either Afghanistan or Syria lets here it. I doubt we would be leaving if that is the case. America can use its wealth, power and influence in other more appreciative regions like Central America for starters.

Let’s hear it? LOL, such an elementary strategy. “If you can’t lay out a viable foreign policy plan for me, then Trump is right.” So silly.
DanB - 12/23/2018 at 12:49 PM

perhaps the profit margins are down in the war industry

nebish - 12/23/2018 at 04:37 PM

quote:

quote:Ending military operations and withdrawing from foreign nations is what we should all want...if the conditions and circumstances support it.

Democrats, not surprisingly, are criticizing which is to be expected. The right wing hawks aren't shy to speak out either. Probably the same ones that would have us invade Iran if they got their way.

We saw what happened when we drew down in Iraq. We really shouldn't or can't stay in these places forever can we? Or do we just accept and continue to pay for it in dollars and lives with the perpetual war? Maybe that is what the age and times call for - I guess that is what the critics want too?

I agree with much of what you said here. I would prefer to be less US presence in active military conflicts in general.

But what we have here is a president who made this decision without discussing it with the experts he hired or our allies. It's like he gets a phone call from Moscow and 15 minutes later he types out the withdrawal on Twitter while sitting on the toilet. He has multiple high level staff openings, a crashing stock market, a government shutdown looming, and multiple scandels in his orbit and all of a sudden he thinks this a great time to drop this out of left field. Things that make you go hmmm.

I totally get it and understand.

Trump thinks that the "fake news" and people are just upset because he is the one bringing troops home from Syria. When in fact, alot of people would like to have our involvement in Syria and other places to end. It is how you do it that matters and few people trusts him to be the one calling the shots on it.

At the same time though, I do not think our more progressive minded friends are willing to just let the generals totally dictate foreign policy. If you do that you are going to have an ever expanding military presence virtually everywhere and more money down the rabbit hole. But yeah I totally get it, any alternative is better than Trump dictating foreign policy to them.
BoytonBrother - 12/23/2018 at 06:30 PM

Trump just created a vacuum for the next terrorist group to form and eventually attack the US. What a disaster and failure.

quote:Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham suggested Sunday President Donald Trump now better understands the stakes in Syria and has agreed to reevaluate, for now, his plans to immediately withdraw all US troops from the country.

He now has a better understanding of the stakes in Syria? He's been President for 2 years.

quote:Graham said that during the President's surprise trip to Iraq last week, commanders on the ground informed Trump that ISIS is not "completely destroyed," which he said was an "eye-opening" experience for the commander in chief.

An "eye-opening" experience for Trump? Too bad he doesn't listen to the people who are around the President to support and assist on a daily basis or else he would've known.

There have been great strides and victories along the way to dismantling ISIS and I credit actions taken under Obama, but I also credit actions taken by the Trump administration to escalate it and achieve greater success. But only Trump and Muleman would think that ISIS is totally defeated or destroyed. They lay in wait. How could he possibly be so surprised to hear this?
gina - 1/6/2019 at 08:12 PM

quote:

quote:Bashar al Assad, Syrias President never asked us to help him get rid of Isis. He did not want us in his country. Russia is more than capable of handling things and is an ally to Assad. The US recently struck what we believe is the main communications hub in Syria. The Islamic State began in Iraq, after we took out Iraq's President.

If Trump believes we no longer need to be in Syria, trust him, he gets good intel.

Trump knows zeroooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.

General Mattis has 40 some years of experience & disagrees with you & Trump. So who do we believe in...Gina & Trump or Mattis?

I just saw several retired generals on TV as well. They are not in the least impressed with Trump.

For those who voted for the incompetent Trump, you really need to think through the damage he's done to this country & the world.

I will concede that General Mattis know more about war and strategy than I do. My core belief is that each country has state sovereignty and we should not be at war/engaged in a military conflict/or trying to build, create or help along any fledgling democracy oriented agendas. What does on in any country is THAT country's business. Early on, Assad could have taken out Isis, or called on Russia to help him do that, he did not choose to. So what right do we have going there to fight a war on someone elses territory? We used to have to go to Congress of the UN before going and bombing another country or any of its people, but after Bush, Iraq and the now historic, 'just don't take the vote if they won't agree to let us go to Iraq' event, what ARE WE DOING? Going anywhere, anytime and shooting at groups of people? I even remember Hillary before she was Secretary of State, when she was running against Obama for the Presidential nomination of the Democratic party being asked if she would notify Pakistan before we sent drone strikes there inside their territory, and her response was that she would notify them when our planes were in the air heading there with the intent of bombing high value targets in Pakistan. Pakistan never liked this, which is why they sent a black helicopter ONE HOUR before our choppers landed in Abbottabad for the Bin laden raid and they extracted two people on that chopper. That's right two people got on that chopper and were whisked away. This was on local news in Paki after midnight here that something was going on there, and then after the 'raid' all the locals who were out in the street were gathered up by the Pakistani military and taken off to be debriefed or threatened to keep their mouths shut or never see daylight again. Pakistan bought drones from us and then told us they could handle their own problems themselves, they did not want us interloping in their country. No other country wants our presence there.

We have no legal authority or right to go to another sovereign country/republic and start shooting people at that country WITHOUT the request or consent of the governing authority of that country.

Saddam was bothering nobody. Now look at the situation.

We need to stay home, secure our own borders and stop pissing off the world.

BrerRabbit - 1/6/2019 at 08:17 PM

quote:I will concede that General Mattis know more about war and strategy than I do

LOL
gina - 1/6/2019 at 08:25 PM

quote:

quote:Not understanding why leaving is such a terrible idea?

Neither am I, but one of our most decorated generals ever was really against it and quit over it.

quote:People complaining about this decision are up for signing up American GIs for another extended military occupation. No thanks.

Well remember when Obama did this and created ISIS? Trump sure loves to justify his actions by reminding us all that “Obama did it too”. I’m still confused as to why Trump continues to do what Obama did, if Obama is his arch nemesis. Odd to say the least. Wouldn’t you think Trump would be doing things differently than the person he hates? Anyway.

quote:If someone can point to something working in either Afghanistan or Syria lets here it. I doubt we would be leaving if that is the case. America can use its wealth, power and influence in other more appreciative regions like Central America for starters.

Let’s hear it? LOL, such an elementary strategy. “If you can’t lay out a viable foreign policy plan for me, then Trump is right.” So silly.

"Well remember when Obama did this and created ISIS?" Say WHAT?

Isis began to form when Osama resigned as the operational leader of Al Qaida, he got so fed up with it, and that was during the Bush years. Remember when he appointed Dr. Zawahiri to be the official spokesman, and even during the seige at Tora Bora when he was writing his will he told his sons NOT to work for Al Qaida. He was not killed at Tora Bora, they escaped over the border into Pakistan. The children of Al Qaida fighters joined Isis, including some of Osama's sons. Prince Salman said in a 60 Minutes Interview that Khalid was in Iraq working for Isis. You have multi-generational mujahideen fighter's children in Isis and they will not back down.

Al Qaida mostly operates in the Arabian peninsula, Africa. Those remaining in Pakistan/Afghanistan just want to live in peace and after fighting the Russians, and the US in the war that started in 2001 they earned the right to stay there.

No Obama did not create Isis. Isis is the evolution of the US busting up other groups who were mostly just in their own sovereign lands not threatening anybody or doing anything to try to topple the govts. in the lands they live in.
BrerRabbit - 1/7/2019 at 01:26 AM

I'm sure I am not the only one here who has wondered what the backstory is behind your Islamic obsession, fawning over Bin Laden on an ABB website, the whole act.